Apr 24–Oct 6, 2025
MoMA
In an era overwhelmed by an abundance of discarded materials and an incessant flow of information, The Gatherers exhibition at MoMA PS1 brings critical attention to contemporary artistic practices that confront global issues of waste and excess. Open from April 24 through October 6, 2025, this exhibition presents a diverse collection of works by fourteen international artists, many of whom are making their first appearance in a US museum setting. Their practices span a wide range of media, including sculptural installation, assemblage, painting, video, and performance, offering multifaceted perspectives on the act of gathering and re-appropriating detritus in today’s complex sociopolitical climate.
While the concept of scavenging and using found objects has long historical roots in art, The Gatherers situates these practices within the urgent realities faced by a generation shaped by globalization’s failures and the socio-economic impacts of neoliberal policies. The exhibition underscores how these artists reinterpret discarded materials not only as physical remnants but as potent carriers of histories and spatialized politics embedded within the built environment. Their works invite viewers to consider how these layered histories continue to reverberate into the future and reflect broader systemic conditions of our times.
The roster of artists featured includes notable names such as Karimah Ashadu (British-born Nigerian), Tolia Astakhishvili (Georgian, collaborating with Dylan Peirce and Maka Sanadze), Miho Dohi (Japanese), He Xiangyu (Chinese), and many others from diverse cultural backgrounds. Each artist brings a unique lens to the act of gathering, whether exploring themes of social memory, environmental degradation, identity, or geopolitical transformation. Their creative processes highlight the intersection between material culture and political narrative, making The Gatherers a profound commentary on art’s capacity to respond to and reshape contemporary challenges.
Organized by Ruba Katrib, Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, with assistance from Sheldon Gooch and research support from Serena Moscardelli, this exhibition offers a rich platform for dialogue and reflection on how artistic practices engage with the debris of our modern world. For those interested in exploring how art negotiates history, environment, and identity through gathering and reassembling, this exhibition is an essential experience. For more details, visit the official MoMA exhibition page: The Gatherers at MoMA PS1.
